Week 3 Fantasy Rankings Part 1: Quarterbacks

Here’s part one of our three part fantasy rankings. Today is tiered rankings for Quarterbacks. Tomorrow, will be Running Backs. And Finally on Saturday we will release our Wide Receiver rankings to gear you up for Sunday. It should be noted that these rankings are based on matchups this week and not overall player value.

Dan Marino Division (These are the guys that you don’t even think of benching no matter what matchup but we’ll rank them for you anyway).

1. Drew Brees @Buffalo- he’s number one no matter what and Buffalo is a pretty tasty matchup. He should eat it right up.

2. Kurt Warner vs. Indianapolis- Chad Pennington was able to rip this defense to shreds with Ted Ginn as his go to guy. Warner should do just fine with Fitzgerald and Boldin.

3. Aaron Rodgers @St. Louis- Bounce back game for Rodgers… and yea, the Rams aren’t very good.

4. Peyton Manning @ Arizona- This one should be a shootout. Hopefully, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and the other guys will be enough like they were on Monday.

5. Philip Rivers vs. Miami- After over 400 yards against Baltimore, he should fair well against Miami’s porous secondary.

6. Tom Brady vs. Atlanta- He should rebound from a subpar week.

7. Tom Romo vs Carolina- Carolina has given up big games to McNabb and Matt Ryan so far. I just really like Romo this week. No Homo.

Vinny Testevedre Division (these guys will get the job done for your team, they just might throw that interception when you least expect it).

8. Eli Manning @ Tampa Bay- Tampa’s secondary isn’t very good. Eli has a big day and is a borderline Marino this week.

9. Matt Schaub vs. Jacksonville- I just think people are a little too high on him right now. Week one he is garbage, Week two, he is a stud, expect something in between.

10. Joe Flacco vs. Cleveland- Joe the Quarterback has a pretty good matchup here. Expect big things.

11. Matt Ryan @ NE- Matt’s first trip to face a Bill Bellicheck run defense in New England. He should do ok but temper expectations just a bit.

Trent Dilfer Division (These are guys that probably won’t win you the week but they won’t lose it for you either… good game managers).

12. Trent Edwards vs. NO- This one should be a shootout. Expect Edwards to air it our a lot.

13. Jason Campbell @ Detroit- This might be too tasty of a matchup to pass up on but you could have said the same thing about St. Louis last week and he left without a score.

14. Jay Cutler @ Sea- Everyone loves to hate him, I would hate to have to start him.

15. Ben Roesthlisberger @ Cin- Don’t love this matchup.Cincinnati isn’t the cupcake they were two years ago and Big Ben isn’t getting the time he needs from his line.

16. David Garrard @ Houston- If you’re in a 16 team league, this will be the worst starting quarterback this week.

Jake Delhomme Division (these guys may look ok, throw ok, even be ok, but when it comes down to it all your really getting is poop).

17. Carson Palmer vs. Pit – If you have other options, this defense is too good.
18. Brett Favre vs. SF- Just retire already.
19. Byron Leftwhich vs. NYG- Potential sneaky play because Tampa is so bad that they will throw a lot. If you have to start, do yourself a favor and don’t watch him.
20. Jake Delhomme @ Dal- He had to round out his own division. He is due for his smelliest poop game of the year.

Sports Mumbo Jumbo

What to expect from Brandon Marshall

Baby T.O is at it again. The center of attention, limelight craving, primadonna WR, otherwise known as Brandon Marshall is the center of the latest Denver Broncos controversy. After being a distraction all during the off season in which he has openly demanded a trade, the Broncos finally had enough and sent Marshall packing for the rest of preseason. However, first year coach, Josh Daniels, has stated after the suspension that he acknowledges how great Marshall is and how the Broncos do want him back for their season opener.

Marshall is one of the NFL’s most talented WRs and any team would be lucky to have talent like him on their team. However, most teams would be just as lucky to avoid his constant distractions.

Besides the Broncos, probably the most anticipated recipients of the Marshall’s status are fantasy owners. The biggest question looming in the fantasy world right now is where do you take Marshall in the draft? Is it worth the risk of having a potential 100+rec. / 1000+ yard / 10+ TD caliber WR who could end up not playing one down? In most fantasy formats the standard starting lineup is 1 QB 2 RB 2 WR 1 TE. I would say that before you take this mega risk, at least have on your team 2 solid RBs , 1 WR and even a good to great QB. Thus, I would probably value Marshall’s stock as a low end No. 2 WR picking him somewhere in the late 4th/early 5th round range. Also, when drafting Marshall you should draft with the mind set that if you are going to take him you should probably have a decent backup available to select in the next pick or two.

Where would you guys draft him?

Eric Feld

Would you want Michael Vick on your NFL Team?

This is a really tough topic to discuss because it is not an easy question to answer. On the one hand you have one of the most talented athletes the sport has ever seen and on the other you have a cruel dog killing villain.

I know he has paid his debt to society, but is what he did forgivable? What he did is not the same as some of the other violations, such as failing drug tests or even drug possession, that have resulted in league suspensions as of late. This is worse than Plaxico shooting himself in the leg and I even believe it is worse than Adam “Pacman” Jones’ stripper nightclub shootings. (Both just standard Friday nights for anyone in America)

No, this is much worse and I will tell you why. Both Plax and Pacman did not go out those nights with the intention to shoot anyone (especially themselves) but Vick, over an extended period of time, was repeatedly and knowingly murdering innocent animals for the sake of a few dollars. I guess his 10-year, $130 million contract extension that guaranteed him an NFL-record at the time $37 million in bonuses was just not enough. That’s what makes it especially confusing. He was doing it the cruel intention of watching these dogs kill each other, the money could not have possibly had any influence on him, right? I guess we will never know.

But even with all that being said, with the recent emergence of the wildcat offenses it would be quite a sight to see the best combination of passer and runner the NFL has ever seen, part of it. No matter where he signs, I just hope it is with a team that plays against the Cleveland Browns. How do you think he would feel playing in one of the most hostile NFL environments nicknamed the “Dog Pound”?

Eric Feld

NFL Sleeper Team of 2009

Going into the 2009 NFL season there is one team that I believe is a true sleeper. I am not just talking about a team who might squeak into the playoffs either. I am talking about a legit Super Bowl contender.

A team that has never posted a winning record in franchise history; A team that is constantly overlooked by their three conference rivals, the Colts, Titans and Jaguars. The Houston Texans, that’s right I said it, the 2nd tier team of Texas, the Houston Texans.

I look at this roster and I do not understand how they are not being talked about amongst the scariest teams in the AFC. The offense is as potent as it gets with Matt Shaub chucking balls up to Andre Johnson, Kevin Walters and Owen Daniels. Not to mention the solid running attack from Steve Slaton.

As impressive as the offense is the improvement on the defensive side has what has made them such contenders this year. With stars such as Mario Williams and DeMaco Ryans already leading the way, the addition of Brian Cushing out of USC provides them with a potential Pro Bowl caliber LB for the upcoming season, who if anyone watched him in college would know he is a beast.

Having Jaguars enter what some are calling a rebuilding year does not hurt either. The Colts and Titans are the two teams that stand in the Texans way. The replacement of Indy’s coaching staff could prove fatal for them and open the path for the Texans to take the AFC South crown. A QB controversy between two low tier QBs: Vince Young and Kerry Collins could prove to disrupt the chemistry that carried the team last year.

The biggest question going into the season is whether Shaub can last a full year under center. Since joining the club in 2007 Shaub has only started 22 games (11 in each year) due to nagging injuries. If he stays in so does Houston’s chances.

Eric Feld
http://mvn.com/thefootballwire/2009/08/nfl-sleeper-team-of-09.html